Mineral flotation with sulfosuccinamate and depressent

ABSTRACT

A process for beneficiating celestite, barite, scheelite, fluorite, calcite, magnetite, gypsum, anhydrite, and apatite is disclosed comprising froth floating a ground pulp conditioned with gangue depressant using tetrasodium N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate as collector.

United States Patent 1191 Day et al.

[451 Aug. 20, 1974 1 1 MINERAL FLOTATION WITH SULFOSUCCINAMATE AND DEPRESSENT [75] Inventors: Arnold Day. Wilton, Conn.;

Herman Hartjens, Ridgewood, NJ.

[73] Assignee: American Cyanamid Company,

Stamford. Conn.

[22] Filed: Mar. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 237,874

[52] US. Cl. 209/166 [51] Int. Cl B03d 1/02 [58] Field of Search 209/166, 167

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,126,292 8/1938 Tartaron 209/166 2.164 063 6/1939 Hundy i. 209/166 X 2,165,268 7/1939 Vogel-Jorgensen 209/166 2.168762 8/1939 Clement 209/166 Chem. Abst., Vol. 66, 1967, 778159. Chem. Abst., Vol. 69, 1968, 212392.

Primary EtaminerRobert Halper Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohn L. Sullivan [57] ABSTRACT A process for beneficiating celestite, barite, scheelite, fluorite, calcite, magnetite, gypsum, anhydrite, and apatite is disclosed comprising froth floating a ground pulp conditioned with gangue depressant using tetrasodium N-( l,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsu1fosuccinamate as collector.

17 Claims, No Drawings MINERAL FLOTATION WITH SULFOSUCCINAMATE AND DEPRESSENT This invention relates to an improved process for flotation of certain ores. More particularly, this invention relates to an improved process for froth flotation of celestite, barite, scheelite, and additional ores using tetrasodium N-( 1,Z-dicarboxyethyl)-Noctadecylsulfosuccinamate as collector in conjunction with appropriate gangue depressants.

In the past, these ores were beneficiated by flotation procedures using various combinations of chemicals in such beneficiation. In some instances, for example, froth flotation was employed using fatty acids alone as collecting agents, or these acids were employed in conjunction with sulfated alcohols and modifying agents such as sodium silicate and sodium carbonate. Although 'the beneficiation procedures currently employed are' effective, there nevertheless continues to exist the need for new processes which can provide greater selectivity and higher recovery of the desired ore components while at the same time reducing chemical requirements and lowering costs of recovery.

In U.S.-Pat. No. 3,469,693, Sept. 30, 1969, Arbiter, there is disclosed a process for beneficiating certain ores in whichthe desired values are present as oxides and sulfides. The process involves use of N-alkylsulfosuccin'am'ates as collectors without the need for depressants in beneficiating specific ores. The process requires desliming of the ores treated prior to beneficiation and operates under acidicconditions. Disodium N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate is noted to be more selective'in the ore beneficiation process than is tetrasodium N-( l,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate. Thus, the nature of the ore processed is such as to have particular requirements with respect to collector,-depressants and conditions of use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a process for beneficiating an ore selected from the group consisting of celestite, barite, scheelite,

fluorite, calcite, magnetite, gypsum, anhydrite, and apatite, which process comprises grinding said ore to flotation size, pulping the ground ore, conditioning the pulp with an effective amount of a depressant for gangue minerals, subjecting the conditioned pulp to froth flotation with tetrasodium N-( 1,2- dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate at a usage of about 0. to 0.50 pound per ton of ore, and collecting the concentrate thus floated.

The process of the present inventionprovides increased selectivity and increased recovery of thedesired ore over former processes and decreases the requirement for chemicals in processing. The present process operates with ores which exhibit ionic nature in the presence of water, employs both collector and depressant, and makes use of a tetrasodium form of sulfosuccinamate.

In carrying out the process of the present invention, the ore employed is selected from celestite, barite, scheelite, fluorite, calcite, magnesite, gypsum, anhydrite, and apatite. Gypsum and anhydrite merely differ in water content but otherwise represent the same mineral content. Apatite refers generally to phosphate rocks containing minerals in the apatite group. The ore selected is ground to a size suitable for froth flotation. Typically, the size of the grind is such that a large portion will pass through a 200 or 325 mesh screen. The

present invention, being a froth flotation process,

. flotation employing an ore as specified.

After the conventional grind has been obtained, it is pulped in water in accordance with conventional froth flotationprocedures. Conveniently, the grind is pulped directly in the flotation cell used to carry out conventional froth flotations. The nature of the pulp should be the same as is customarily processed except for additives used in processing.

' ing on the specific ore being processed. In the case of celestite, barite, scheelite, calcite, and magnesite, sodium silicate is used at a concentration of about 0.5 to 5 pounds per ton of ore. In the case of fluorite, gypsum and anhydrite, quebracho is used at a concentration of about 0.1 to 1.0 pound per ton of ore. In the case of apatite, NaOH is used at about 0.5 pound per ton of ore. In the case of fluorite, the use of sodium carbonate and sodium silicate is eliminated by the present invention, thus effecting a saving of up to about 10 pounds per ton of each of these chemicals. The time ofconditioning is usually short, i.e., from a fraction of a minute to several minutes,and needs to be only as long as is required to effect satisfactory pulp dispersion.

After the pulp is conditioned, it is subjected to froth flotation employing from about 0.10 to 0.50 pound per ton of ore of tetrasodium N-( l,2-dicarboxyethyl)-'N- octadecyl-sulfosuccinamate preferably from about 0.10 to 0.35 lb./ton of ore. It is generally preferable to add the sulfosuccinamate in stages, employing short conditioning and flotation steps in each stage. Tetrasodium N-( 1,2-dicarboxyethyl )-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate is the sole collector contemplated by the present invention since othercollectors do not provide the desired selectivity and recovery features. 'The effectiveness of the tetrasodium compound in the present process is highly unexpected in view of the US. patent cited above wherein it is noted that the disodium compound was more effective with the specific ores processed therein.

The concentrate produced by froth flotation is then collected by suitable procedures normally employed in conjunction with conventional processes. Upon collection, the rough concentrate is frequently of commercial grade and may be processed without additionaltreatment. It is generally desirable, however, to obtain cleaner concentrates by reflotation of the rougher concentrate. In the reflotation, use may be made of small amounts of collector, depressant, or both depending upon the nature of the rough concentrate initially obtained. Thus, if recovery is lower than desired, small increments of collector are added in each cleaning cycle. If purity is low in the roughconcentrate, small increments of depressant are added in each cleaning. If both purity and recovery need improvement, both collector and depressant may be added in small increments. An increment of collector is generally of 0.01-0.02 lb. per ton of original ore. An increment of depressant may be about0.2 lb. per ton of original ore.

The invention is illustrated by the examples which follow in which temperature of processing is ambient unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLE 1 Celestite Flotation Ore assay: 55% SrSO Gangue Minerals: Calcite, Hematite, and Quartz The ore was ground to 88 percent minus 325 mesh. The ground ore was placed in a flotation cell and pulped to a consistency satisfactory for flotation. The pulped ore was conditioned for 5 minutes with Na SiO 5.0 lb. per ton of ore, to obtain a satisfactory pulp dispersion and as depressant for the gangue minerals. Flotation was then effected with staged additions of tetrasodium N-( l,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate in five stages each of 0.042 lb. per ton of ore to give a total of 0.21 lb. per ton of collector. Each stage consisted of 0.5 minute of conditioning and 1.0 minute of flotation using a polypropylene glycol type frother, at a total usage of 0.05 lb. per ton of ore.

The rougher concentrate obtained was cleaned twice by reflotation using 0.0175 lb. per ton of original ore of the collector identified above in each cleaning.

Results are given in Table I below.

Barite Flotation Ore assay: 55% BaSO 20% CaF CaCO;,, 5% silicates The ore was ground to 85 percent minus 325 mesh. The ground ore was pulped in a flotation cell to a consistency satisfactory for flotation. The pulp was conditioned with varying amounts of Na siO for 3 minutes. Flotation was then effected in five stages using 0.042 lb. per ton of ore of the collector of Example 1 in each stage, for a total usage of collector of 0.21 lb./ton, each stage consisting of 0.5 minute of conditioning and 1.0 minute of flotation. Frother was as in Example 1.

The rougher concentrate obtained was cleaned twice by reflotation using 0.0175 lb./ton of original ore of the collector employed initially in each cleaning.

Results are given in Table 11 below and the specific usages of Na SiO in particular runs are also shown.

The above data shows the criticality of sodium silicate usage on selectivity and recovery in the present process.

EXAMPLE 3 The rough concentrate was cleaned as in Example 2.

Results are given in Table 111 below.

TABLE III BaSO, Recovery Rough Concentrate 90.5 95.7 Recleaned Concentrate 93.0 89.2

EXAMPLE 4 Scheelite Flotation Ore assay: 0.9% W0 as CaWO with garnet, calcite, diopside, and quartz as principal gangue minerals.

The ore was ground to 47 percent minus 200 mesh. The ground ore was pulped in a flotation cell to a consistency satisfactory for flotation. The pulp was conditioned for 5 minutes using Na cO 1.5 lb./ton of ore and Na SiO 3.0 lb./ton of ore, at pH 9.7 as depressants. Flotation was carried out in live stages using 0.07 lb./ton of the collector of Example 1 in each stage for a total usage of collector of 0.35 lb./ton of ore. Each stage used 0.5 minute of conditioning and 1.0 minute of flotation.

The rougher concentrate obtained was cleaned twice by reflotation using 1.0 lb. of Na SiO per ton of original ore in each cleaning.

Results are given in Table IV below.

Fluorite Flotation Ore assay: 55% CaF 25% CaCO ,l6% SiO balance silicates.

The ore was ground to 45 percent minus 200 mesh. The ground ore was pulped in a flotation cell to a consistency suitable for flotation. The pulp was conditioned at C. for 2 minutes using Quebracho, 0.2 lbjton of ore. The conditioned pulp was froth floated in two stages using 0.02 lb./ton of frother described of Example 1. The collector was as in Example 1 at a usage of 0.07 lb./ton in each stage. Each stage involved 0.5 minute of conditioning and 1.5 minutes of flotation, thus involving 0.14 lb./ton of collector.

The rough concentrate was repulped at 80C. and refloated five times using 0.05 lb./ton of the same collector and 0.05 lb./ton of quebracho in each cleaning.

Results are given in Table V below.

Calcite Flotation Ore Assay: 65% CaCO with quartz as principal gangue mineral The ore is ground to 70 percent minus 200 mesh,

conditioned with 0.5 lb. per ton of sodium silicate for 3 minutes and froth floated for 4 minutes using the frother of Example 1 with two staged additions of the collector of Example 1 for a total of 0.3 lb. per ton of ore-The rougher concentrate is cleaned once by reflotation using 0.05 lb./ton of collector. Results are as follows:

Assay 7c CaCO Recovery Flotation Feed 65.0 Cleaner Concentrate 965 93.0

EXAMPLE 7 Assay 7r MgCO Recovery Flotation Feed 54.0 Cleaner Concentrate 94.8 92.1

EXAMPLE 8 Ore Assay: 49% CaSO -2H O with calcite and dolomite as principal gangue minerals.

The ore is ground to 80 percent minus 100 mesh, conditioned for 2 minutes with 1 lb. per ton of quebracho, and froth floated using the frother of Example 1 with two staged additions of the collector of Example 1 for a total usage of collector of 0.245 lb. per ton of ore. The rougher concentrate is cleaned twice using 0.05 lb. per ton of quebracho and 0.02 lb. per ton of collector in each cleaning. Results are as follows:

Assay CaSO -2H O Recovery Flotation Feed 49.0 Cleaner Concentrate 870 9 l .3

When the above procedure is carried out using an anhydrite ore substantially the same results are obtained.

EXAMPLE 9 Ore Assay: A crude phosphate rock containing 15 percent P O in the form of minerals of the apatite group with siliceous and argillaceous gangue minerals.

The ore is ground to minus 35 mesh, scrubbed at percent solids, and screened to remove minus mesh material. The plus 150 mesh material is conditioned for 2 minutes with 0.5 lb. per ton of NaOH and then froth floated using the frother of Example 1 for 5 minutes with two staged additions of the collector of Example 1 to a total usage of 0.21 lb. per ton of ore.

Results are as follows:

Assay P 0 Recovery Flotation Feed 15.0 Flotation Concentrate 31.0 89.0

We claim:

1. A method of beneficiating an ore selected from the group consisting of celestite, barite, scheelite, fluorite, calcite, magnesite, gypsum, anhydrite, and apatite which comprises grinding said ore to flotation size, pulping the ground ore in water, conditioning the pulp with an effective amount of a neutral or alkaline type depressant for the gangue material, selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, quebracho and sodium hydroxide, subjecting the conditioned pulp to froth flotation with tetrasodium N-( l ,2- dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate at a usage of about 0.10 to 0.50 lb. per ton of ore, and collecting the concentrate thus floated.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the ores are selected from celestite, barite, scheelite, calcite and magnesite and the depressant is sodium silicate in an amount of about 3 to 5 lbs. per ton.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the ores are selected from fluorite, gypsum, and anhydrite and the depressant is Quebracho in an amount of about 0.1 to 1.0 lb. per ton.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the ore is apatite and the depressant is NaOH in an amount of about 0.5 lb. per ton.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the concentrate obtained is repulped and subjected to further froth flotation with addition of suitable depressant, tetrasodium N-( l,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate, or both.

6. The process of claim 2 wherein the concentrate obtained is repulped and subjected to further froth flotation with addition of about 0.0175 lb. of tetrasodium N-( l,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate per ton of concentrate.

7. The process of claim 3 wherein the concentrate obtained is repulped and subjected to further froth floration with addition of about 0.0175 lb. of tetrasodium 13. The process of claim 3 wherein the ore is fluorite. N-( l ,Z-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate per ton of original ore. 14. The process of claim 3 wherein the ore is gypsum.

8. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is celestite.

15. The process of claim 3 wherein the ore is anhy- 9. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is barite. drite.

16. The process of claim 1 wherein the collector is 10. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is scheeused in the range of 0.01 to 0.35 lb. per ton of ore. lite. 17. The process of claim 1 wherein froth flotation is 11. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is calcite :0 carried out in stages with partial usage of collector in each stage so as to provide total collector Usage in the 12. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is magnerange of 0.10 to 0.50 lb. per ton of ore. ite =l= l 

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the ores are selected from celestite, barite, scheelite, calcite and magnesite and the depressant is sodium silicate in an amount of about 3 to 5 lbs. per ton.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the ores are selected from fluorite, gypsum, and anhydrite and the depressant is Quebracho in an amount of about 0.1 to 1.0 lb. per ton.
 4. The process of claim 1 wherein the ore is apatite and the depressant is NaOH in an amount of about 0.5 lb. per ton.
 5. The process of claim 1 wherein the concentrate obtained is repulped and subjected to further froth flotation with addition of suitable depressant, tetrasodium N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate, or both.
 6. The process of claim 2 wherein the concentrate obtained is repulped and subjected to further froth flotation with addition of about 0.0175 lb. of tetrasodium N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate per ton of concentrate.
 7. The process of claim 3 wherein the concentrate obtained is repulped and subjected to further froth flotation with addition of about 0.0175 lb. of tetrasodium N-(1,2-dicarboxyethyl)-N-octadecylsulfosuccinamate per ton of original ore.
 8. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is celestite.
 9. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is barite.
 10. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is scheelite.
 11. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore is calcite.
 12. The process of claim 2 wherein the ore iS magnesite.
 13. The process of claim 3 wherein the ore is fluorite.
 14. The process of claim 3 wherein the ore is gypsum.
 15. The process of claim 3 wherein the ore is anhydrite.
 16. The process of claim 1 wherein the collector is used in the range of 0.01 to 0.35 lb. per ton of ore.
 17. The process of claim 1 wherein froth flotation is carried out in stages with partial usage of collector in each stage so as to provide total collector usage in the range of 0.10 to 0.50 lb. per ton of ore. 